Parents

School Times

We closely monitor attendance, punctuality and its impact on children’s learning. Your child must be in class by 8.50a.m. to register. The class doors and registers shut at 9.00a.m. and for the staff and children’s safety the door remains closed. If you arrive after 9.00a.m. please bring your child to the main entrance and sign them in.

Appointments

If your child has a dentist, doctor or hospital appointment he/she must be brought to school as normal. You will need to collect and return your child from the office, and sign our appointments book. Please bring your appointment card/letter with you so we can take a copy for our files.

Attendance & Holidays in Term Times

Children of school-age who are registered at a school must, by law, attend school every day. Attendance is important, not just because the law requires it, but because it is the best way of ensuring that a child makes the most of the educational opportunities which are available to him or her. There may be occasions when a child has to miss school – for example, if he or she is very unwell.

In particular, parents should avoid taking their children out of school during term-time in order to go on holiday.

Assemblies/Performances

School celebrates birthdays and achievements every week – please look at the newsletter to see if your child has been awarded!

We hold traditional and/or modern Christmas performances in December to which parents are invited.
In the Summer Term all classes from Nursery to Year 5 will hold a class assembly for parents. To celebrate their final weeks at Broom Barns, Year 6 will perform a production to the school and parents.

Child Protection

Schools have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This duty requires schools to have a Child Protection Policy and to cooperate with local and national safeguarding procedures. Schools may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare.
Broom Barns School has a Child Protection Policy which is available for parents/carers to see. The policy is also available at https://broombarns.herts.sch.uk/our-school/policies/

We work in cooperation with the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Inter-agency Child Protection and Safeguarding Children Procedures which are available at www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk
The Headteacher is the Designated Senior Person for Child Protection. She will be happy to discuss any questions or concerns parents/carers may have about Child Protection policies and practice.

Consultation Evenings

These are held in the Autumn and Summer Terms and are an opportunity to share and discuss your child/rens progress and achievements.

Contact with Family Support Worker

Mrs Taylor is available to meet with parents to discuss any non-educational concerns and offer support and guidance for parents.

Contact with Class Teachers

Parents may approach the Class Teacher to discuss any concerns or share news and information about their child/ren, please try to arrange to meet with them at the end of the day when the teacher will have more time.

Contact with Head Teacher

If you would like to speak to the Headteacher about any suggestions to improve the school or any concerns, please contact the school office to make an appointment.

Medicine

If your child is prescribed emergency, life saving medication such as asthma inhalers or epi-pens please bring the medication in to school in the original container with the prescription label attached. You will be asked to complete a ‘Request for School to Administer Medication’ form before we can administer any medication. Please note we cannot administer other medication or over the counter medications including cough lozenges and painkillers.

Parent Partners

Parents who would like to volunteer regularly are always welcome. We do have to run a Disclosure & Barring Service check (formerly known as Criminal Records Bureau check). Please contact Mrs Pomroy for further information.

Parking

The school car park is for staff and agreed visitors only. Please walk to school if you can. If you have to drive pleaseobserve the traffic regulations and park safely away from the school, avoiding congestion near the school so that children can cross safely. Do not park, or wait, on the yellow ‘KEEP CLEAR’ markings. These markings are self-explanatory and are there to keep children safe. Do not block other people’s driveways or garages with your vehicle. This is classed as an unnecessary obstruction and could result in your vehicle being ticketed and even removed. Do not park blocking dropped kerbs. These are in place to allow access to wheelchairs/prams. Blocking these will result in your vehicle being ticketed.

The safety of the children is our priority. Thank you to everyone that parks in a safe and considerate fashion.

Written Reports

These are issued in the Spring Term with achievement and progress to date and include targets for further development.

Trip Online Forms

Paper Forms

Dolce Ltd is the new school meals provider at Broom Barns. All dinners must be ordered through their website ( School Grid ) and all dinner money must be paid online directly to Dolce. Unfortunately, the school cannot take cash or order meals for pupils from September 2019.

The cost of the meals is as follows:
Infant (Reception, Year 1 & Year 2) free under the government initiative ‘Universal Infant Free School Meals’Junior £2.40 per day, £12.00 per week (as of 1st September 2019).

Free School Meals

Families on Income Support may be eligible for free meals. The school is NOT able to allow free meals to be taken without authorisation from the Education Office, so it is important to make applications prior to the start of the new school year.

Your child could get a free school meal if you receive any of the following:

Income Support

Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you don’t get more than £16,190 a year)

Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400after tax and not including any benefits you get).

Apply today if you receive any of these benefits. It takes 5 mins and in most cases we can tell you straightaway if your child can get free meals at school. Application forms are available at: Free School Meals Application Form

DOLCE F.A.Q.s

Will there be a charge if I pay by card?
There is no charge for making payments by either credit or debit card to your account.

Is there a limit to the amount I can pay?
No, you can choose to pay as little or as much as you would like. Your current balance can be checked at any time in ‘Account History’.

How often do I need to top up my account?
Payment by card is required in advance and you can top up your account as often as you like to ensure that your account is always in credit.

I am entitled to Free School Meals for my child – what do I do now?
If you have been awarded Free School Meal entitlement please the school office to ensure that your account has been updated.

How will my direct debit be collected?
Direct Debit payments are collected every month on the payment date you select. Dolce will send you a statement prior to collection, listing all of the meals that your child has eaten, the total amount to be taken and payment date reminder.

The school uniform is based on the school colours of grey and red. Good quality red sweatshirts, polo shirts together with grey fleeces are available for sale from most supermarkets and chain stores. School uniform makes an important contribution to the ethos of the school and the work and attitude of the children. Wearing a school uniform reinforces a sense of community belonging and avoids their best clothes being spoiled. Please ensure that your child is dressed in clothes that he/she can easily manage. Younger children benefit from pull-up trousers and skirts and non laced shoes.

Your co-operation in ensuring that your child wears uniform to school is essential.

The children will need red, black or white shorts and a white T-shirt for P.E. and games. P.E. lessons in the hall are usually done in bare feet, but trainers are required for outdoor lessons. Please ensure your child is provided with suitable kit. It is a county health and safety rule that jewellery is NEVER worn whilst doing physical activities. Children will be requested to remove earrings or they will be required to wear tape over earrings – Parents/Carers may be asked to provide tape.

Since many of the areas are carpeted, children are expected to have indoor shoes (plimsolls) to change into on arrival at school. Black slip-on plimsolls are ideal. A drawstring shoe bag to keep them in would be most helpful. A shoe bag is available for sale from the school office.

School Uniform Expectations
We insist on the following simple, but smart, uniform for all students at the school and rely on parents for their full support;

Mobile phones, tablets, iPods, MP3 players and earphones should not be brought into school.

ONLY Year 6 pupils have the privilege of bringing in a mobile phone on the understanding;
1. They hand it to the School Office where it will be kept and will only be returned at the end of the day.
2. The school will not accept responsibility for these items so please ensure you have appropriate insurance cover as the school’s insurance does not cover loss or damage.

If you would like to book any of the following clubs please do so through the School Gateway App.

The charge for Sports Clubs is £1 per child, per session and £2 per session for Art & Games Clubs. We are sure you will agree that they are is amazingly low for any club. For families claiming free school meals (FSM), not Universal Infant Free School Meals, the clubs are free. Children will only be offered a place at a club once payment has been received or the school has checked FSM allocations. If you wish to apply for FSM please apply online at: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/home.aspx

All clubs are charged in advance.

WRAP & Sports Clubs are non-refundable if a child misses a session or drops out. If for any reason the school has to cancel a club you will be refunded for that session.

Due to rising numbers, WRAP Breakfast and WRAP Arts & Crafts Club will not charge if a child is booked in but is off sick or at least 48 hours notice has been given to the school either by email, text or phone call for any other cancellations.

Mr Kalaiarasu /
Mr Barrow

Times

Year

Cost
(£1 per session)

Dates

Boys Football &
Girls Football

3.20-4.20pm

5 & 6

£6.00

24th Feb to 30th Mar

Curling

3.20-4.20pm

3 & 4

£6.00

25th Feb to 31st Mar

Archery

3.20-4.20pm

5 & 6

£6.00

25th Feb to 31st Mar

Let’s Get Active

3.20-4.20pm

Rec, 1 & 2

£6.00

26th Feb to 1st Apr

Please check when individual clubs stop running.

Miss Harris

Times

Year

Cost

Dates

Monday – Games

3.20-4.20pm

Rec to Y6

£2 per session

7th Jan
to
16th
July
2020

Tuesday – Arts & Crafts

3.20-4.20pm

Rec to Y6

£2 per session

Wednesday – Toys

3.20-4.20pm

Rec to Y6

£2 per session

Thursday – Arts & Crafts

3.20-4.20pm

Rec to Y6

£2 per session

Friday – Computer & Books

3.20-4.20pm

Rec to Y6

£2 per session

Important please note:

A Late Collection Fee will be charged if your child/ren are not collected from clubs at 4.20pm. There will be a charge of £5 for every 5 minutes per child.

All children must be collected and signed out of the clubs by a known adult between October half term and February half term. Year 5 and Year 6 pupil will only be allowed to walk home from clubs after February half term until October half term with written parental permission.

If your child is receiving free school meals (not Universal Infant Free School Meals) the clubs are free. Please book through the office. Please note if your child misses three session in a row, they may lose their place.

Children will only be offered a place at a club once payment has been received.

All clubs are charged in advance and are non-refundable if a child misses a session or drops out. If for any reason the school has to cancel a club you will be refunded for that session.

Due to rising numbers, WRAP Breakfast and WRAP Arts & Crafts Club will not charge if a child is booked in but is off sick or at least 48 hours notice has been given to the school either by email, text or phone call for any other cancellations.

Nurture Club

At Broom Barns we offer a lunchtime nurture club. All sorts of children join nurture clubs and groups, for all sorts of reasons. The purpose of our nurture club is to encourage the child to want to come to school and feel that they are able to take part in all school activities; to take pride in their learning and to learn to grow at a pace that is appropriate to them. The nurture club also offers children a fantastic opportunity to learn broader life lessons in addition to their school work – for example learning to join in with their class, making new friends, discovering their own talents and baking cakes!

Stevenage Sporting Futures Team

With the collaborative partnership of our school and Stevenage Sporting Futures Team we are able to offer the children a fully inclusive variety of sporting experiences, festivals and competitions, along with support and training for our staff.

We are proud to be a Sports Premium Plus school of the Stevenage Sporting Futures Team.

The club is run by trained staff who plan the activities for children to have fun and learn whilst playing.

Activities include games, dance and painting. During the summer we offer outdoor activities. There is also a quiet space for reading and study, with a staff member to help and encourage the children.
Please note bookings need to be paid for at the time of booking. Bookings and payments are made through the School Gateway app.

Bookings and payments can be made quickly and easily via the School Gateway app below after you have registered.

Breakfast

When a decision is made to close the school in severe weather, it is to ensure the safety of all pupils, parents and staff. The decision is usually made in the morning and depends on local factors. You will be informed that the school is closed in the following ways:

Everbridge – the Hertfordshire County Council now use Everbridge website for their dedicated page listing the status (open or closed) of every school in the county. Log onto Everbridge by clicking HERE and click on the ‘Sign Up’ link. Once you have completed the registration for all the schools of your choice you will receive notification messages during severe weather.

Local Radio Stations – Three Counties Radio station will make regular announcements.

Schoolcomms – an e-mail/text message will be sent via Schoolcomms as soon as possible.

Please be aware the internet and mobile services get very busy at these times and you may need to check them on a regular basis. Please ensure we always have up-to-date contact numbers so we can text & email if necessary. Thank you.

Homework Help

A service for students from KS2, KS3, GCSE and AS/A2 Level to ask a teacher a question on homework, coursework or revision (replies in 24 hours) and to search the database of over 15,000 previously asked questions.